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Cam Rising is expected to return to the field this weekend when Utah faces Arizona State on the road, providing a huge boost for the slumping Utes.
Rising has not played since Sept. 7, when he injured a finger on his throwing hand upon colliding with team equipment on the sideline when he was run out of play. That injury required stitches and Rising has not played since.
The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy reported on Thursday that Rising is expected to start.
And that news sent a little jolt into the betting markets. Utah was previously around a 4.5-point favorite at most sports betting apps. At the time of publication, Utah was a 6.5-point favorite at FanDuel.
Rising returned to practice this week, providing hope he was nearing an on-field return. Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said at his Monday press conference “there’s a chance” that Rising would play.
Of course, given what Utah fans have had to endure over the last 18 months or so, some won’t actually believe Rising is back until he officially runs out with the first-team offense on Friday night.
Rising missed every game for the Utes last season as he recovered from a knee injury suffered in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2, 2023. Whittingham was less than forthcoming with updates on Rising’s return to play, suggesting early on in the year that he was close to a return. Those comments fueled fan angst and eventually prompted both Rising and the surgeon who worked on his knee to publicly explain the extent of his injuries.
The veteran quarterback started the first 2 games of this season and completed 18 of his 29 passes for 346 yards and 7 touchdowns. Since exiting the Baylor game in Week 2, freshman Isaac Wilson has run the show for the Utes.
Wilson has completed just 56% of his passes for 830 yards with 6 touchdowns and 7 picks. He has been sacked 8 times and is averaging just 6.8 yards per pass attempt.
Arizona State, meanwhile, has been dangerous in Year 2 under Kenny Dillingham. The Sun Devils (4-1) beat Mississippi State at home in Week 2 then went on the road and beat Texas State as a 2.5-point dog. ASU responded to its first loss of the season with a 35-31 win over Kansas last Saturday.
Friday night’s kickoff between the Utes and the Sun Devils is set for 10:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
